The Dispatch | West Africa | ECOWAS | AES

ECOWAS plans to deploy a 260,000-strong counter-terrorism force by 2026 with a $2.5bn budget, reflecting the AU’s Peace and Security Architecture. The Sahel, now the site of 51% of global terrorism deaths in 2024, underscores the urgency as violence spreads into Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. Yet sustainability rests on a narrow pool of strong economies: Nigeria spent $3.2bn on defense in 2023, compared to Côte d’Ivoire’s $1.05bn and Senegal’s $470m. Mali and Burkina Faso’s boycott of the August 25 summit further highlights institutional fractures, recalling the donor-dependent failures of the G5 Sahel and MNJTF. Outlook: Full deployment within 6–12 months is improbable. ECOWAS and AES states should first rebuild political will, pool African resources, and design sustainable financing mechanisms. External partners, despite competing agendas, can add value by supporting interoperability and diplomatic bridges. Read the full Dispatch for analysis and recommendations.